Boldly Go Collection/version40.iso/TS/05B/PCFASDOC.ZIP/FDOC20.DOC

Text File | 1991-10-24 | 5.7 KB | 116 lines

            FDOC20  ASPECT SCRIPT FILE (FASTDOC ver 2.0)


      FDOC20.ASP is a PCPLUS ASPECT script to simplify the
transmission of documents prepared according to the FAST.DOC
technique. FAST.DOC is a text file in Library 1, which, among
other things, tells you how to prepare messages (both original
messages and replies) and how to delete messages--all
off-line--by preparing a text file for transmission to
CompuServe.  FDOC20.ASP, of course, assumes that you are familiar
with FAST.DOC and have prepared a file in which you have composed
messages, prepared replies to messages, or selected messages to
delete (or a combination of the foregoing) as specified in
FAST.DOC.

     What does FDOC20.ASP do for you?  It allows you to send
messages to three different forums which you select before you
log on.  It eliminates fumbling while on-line.

     To use the command file with PCPLUS, you load PCPLUS, press
ALT-F5 to list the script files, move the cursor bar to the line
with FDOC20.ASP and press <Enter>.  FDOC20.ASP then takes over and
presents you with a menu of forums from which to choose.  If a
forum you want is not listed, you can choose "None of the above"
and you can then type in the name of the forum you wish.  After
you select a forum, the command file asks you to type the name of
the file containing the messages (or replies or deletions), and
it checks to see that the file is on the disk.  If you want, you
can transmit the same file to more than one forum, but usually
you will have a separate file for each forum.  I usually have
something like MSG.1, MSG.2, and MSG.3, but you can use any file
name legal under DOS.  If the file is not on disk (e.g., you
misspelled the file name or you forgot to specify the path), you
get to try again (or to cancel the command file).  Once you have
selected a forum and specified a file to send, the process is
repeated until you either hit <Enter> at the forum selection menu
or you have chosen three forums.

     The command file then calls CompuServe, goes to the first
forum you selected, and transmits the messages, replies, etc.,
contained in the first specified file (the one that you prepared
according to FAST.DOC).  It then goes to the second and third
forums and sends the second and third specified files.  After the
last file is sent, the command file terminates, and you are at
the CompuServe prompt.  The command file does not log off for
you, though it could be adapted to do that for you.  Unattended
use of this command file is not advisable, however.

     Before you use this command file, retrieve it as an ASCII
(also known as DOS text) file with your word processor (for
WordPerfect: use F5, 5 (Text in)), set the margins at the very
top of the document at 0 (left) and 80 (right) (or if you use
inches as your units of measurement, at .25" and .25") and
replace:
     1.  The dialing directory entry,
     2.  The user number, and
     3.  The password.
These items are followed by lines marked with ** two asterisks **
that are in ALL CAPS.  (TED.COM from PC MagNet is ideal for this
kind of editing; if you don't have it, you should get it.)

     You may also want to change the forums listed.  If you do,
you may notice the box surrounding the menu getting bent out of
shape.  You can restore it by adding or deleting spaces after the
new forum name you put in, depending on whether the name you put
in is shorter or longer than the one you deleted.  If you do
change the name of a forum in the menu box, you must also change
the name of the forum in the listing of choices following the
SWITCH S1 command.  For example, if you change menu entry number
6 from IBMBBS to WITSIG, then you must change the forum name
under CASE "6" likewise so it will then read:

     ASSIGN S2 "WITSIG" ;

     (After you have used the command file a few times, you may
also wish to eliminate the opening message.  Just delete all the
lines at the top of the file (but below your margin codes) down
to and including the line that says PAUSE 5.  The command file
will execute a little faster if you do.)

     Then save as an ASCII (DOS text file).  (For  WordPerfect,
use:  CTRL-F5 and save as DOS text.  Then, clear the screen with
F7 but do NOT save with the F7 key.)

     Copy this file to the directory containing PCPLUS.  You
may wish to rename it to something more to your liking, such as
FORUM.ASP or even A.ASP.  (As the opening message indicates, I
call it FASTDOC.ASP on my computer.)  It is not necessary to use
the suffix .ASP with a script file, but it will not be listed
when you hit Alt-F5 unless you do.

     PROCOMM PLUS users:  this is a command file that has been
adapted to an Aspect script file by following the instructions
given by Datastorm Technology.  N.B.  Besides giving it an .ASP
suffix and replacing each single exclamation mark with a ^M and a
double exclamation mark with a single exclamation mark, SET FLOWCTRL
ON has been changed to SET SOFTFLOW ON.

     Caveats:  I have tested this command file only with forums
and have not tried to use it with Easyplex.  It may not react
properly if you have an Easyplex message and you are
automatically taken to Easyplex upon logging on.  In addition, I
tried listing PC MagNet as a forum but CompuServe apparently only
serves as a gateway to PC MagNet, which is not a forum and uses
somewhat different message commands.  (Maybe the next issue of
FAST.DOC will address this.)

     Depending on popular demand (or lack thereof) this command
file may one day be improved to collect waiting messages in the
forums to which the messages are sent.  If interested, let me
know by Easyplex.



AUTHOR:  Richard Burt,  71511,3655
Amended for use with PCPLUS version 1.1x by Holly Henry, 73727,406